Sectional case.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. P. BYRNES.

SEOTIONAL CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 15 1901 PATENTBD JAN. 16, 1906.

O. P. BYRNES.

SEOTIONAL CASE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SECTIONAL CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed January 15, 1901. SerialNo. 43,362.

To all whom it 'ITMLZ/ concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE P. BYRNES, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Sectional Case, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 isafront elevation of a sectional case constructed in accordance with my invention: Fig. 2is an end elevation of the same,

, partly broken away to show the construction of the joint between the sections. Fig. 3 is a perspecti vedetail view,on a larger scale,of the corner-joint portion between two registering vertical sections; and Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view, on a larger scale, showing the top section and the joint.

My invention relates to the class of sectional cases having similar units superimposed to give the desired amount of storing-space; and its object is to provide improved joints between the diiferent vertical sections to enable side swinging doors and,if desired, adjustable shelves to be employed as in ordinary bookcases and to provide a construction which when the diiferent sections are superimposed will present the appearance of an ordinary bookcase.

In the drawings in which I show the preferred form of my invention, 2 represents the base unit, 8 a top unit, andt t two main or book units, each of which is shown as of sufficient height to enable an adjustable shelf. or shelves 5 to beused therein. These shelves may be supported on plugs 6, inserted in any of the series of holes 7 in the ends of the section. Each main section is provided with a swinging door 8, having hinges 9 secured at the end of the section, as in the manner of an ordinary bookcase. Each of these doors is provided either on its top rail or bottom rail with a vertically-projecting flange or cover- .strip 10, preferably of wood, which when ance.

main sections in such a manner that they will swing together as one unitary door,if desired, 1 provide the top and bottom rails of each door with vertical holes or slots, which may receive dowel pins, such as shown at 12. Then one section is fitted upon another, the dowel-pin may be inserted in the hole of the lower door and the door of the next section fitted upon it, thus fastening the two doors together by a hidden connection. In order to provide an'interlocking joint or connection between the several sections and at the same time allow a complete top or bottom partition to be used in each section,if desiredl make the connecting-joint on an irregular line which crosses the top or bottom partition of 0ne of the sections. Thus in the form shown the bottom 13 of each section is secured to the ends and back of this section, and the ends 14 of the section are provided with an upward jog or angular recess 15, within which fit corresponding projections at the upper ends of the end boards of the next lower section. When the sections are fitted together, the middle upper parts of the ends of one section will extend across the bottom board of the section above, and thus prevent sliding of one section upon the other in either direction. A neat and secure joint is thus afforded which may be of the full thickness of the end boards. If it is desired to conceal the joints between the dilferent vertical sections, this is easily done by providing a transverse ornamental strip 16 of wood or other material which is secured to the end of each section and is of sufficient width to project across and entirely hide the joint at the ends of the units, and I also provide a small front strip 17, covering the-front of the joint, and which, together with strip 16, is preferably of the width of the flange or cover-strip which covers the joint between the doors. The joints between the different vertical sections and their doors are thus entirely hidden by the use of ornamental strips, such as are ordinarily used for finishing the ends of bookcases, and to further give this effect additional vertical end and front strips 18 and 19 may be used for the end faces and front edges of the ends 14:. These strips further provide a closure if oasesections are placed end to end, as without them the joint-hiding strips 16 would act as spacers and leave vertical spaces between the ends of the sections.

Instead of using the separate transverse and vertical ornamental cover-strips I may use IIO layers of veneer upon the outer faces of the section ends, which will entirely cover these ends and project vertically beyond them to cover the irregular connecting-joints. If this is done, the veneer should of course be used on the inner faces of the ends, in which case a cheap wood may be used for the end boards proper.

The top rail of each door preferably covers the separating partition or bottom, as shown, and projects above the level of the back of the section to this extent. The front portion of each end joint is preferably horizontal and is covered by the partition, so that the jog or irregular part will be concealed by the books or other articles.

The joint between the base-section and the main section, as well as that between the main section and the top section, is preferably the same as the interfitting joints between the joint-sections, as indicated in the drawings.

. The advantages of my invention result from the new and improved joints between the superimposed sections, which give a strong and secure connection without the necessity of metal bars or strips. Each section may be provided with a complete top or bottom, as the case may be, as in the form shown, or this partition may be formed partly in one section and partly in the next, with the two parts interfitting to form the complete partition, as in the well-known Wernicke unit system, and, further, from the interconnecting of the swinging doors, which gives the case the appearance of a non-sectional case. The use of adjustable shelves is permitted within each section, and the parts of each main section are duplicates of each other.

The horizontal partition which forms the top and bottom of two adjacent sections may be secured either at the lower end or at the top of each section, the joint being formed to correspond therewith. The jog or irregular part of the joint may be non-symmetrical and the line of the joint may take any course provided it crosses the line of the partition, so that this partition fits against a projecting part of the next section to prevent one unit sliding on the next. with the ordinary sliding and swinging doors of the unit systems now used and the door system may be used with other styles of connecting-joints between the sections. Any suitable devices may be used for connecting the sections end to end where more than one vertical row is used. The doors may be left unconnected, so that one will swing independently of the other. The horizontal partition may project forwardly between the doors. Each unit may be made of a suitable height for a single row of books instead of for two or three rows, as shown, and many other changes may be made in the shape and size of the units without departing from the scope of my invention.

The joint may be used I claim 1. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed sections having irregular joints at their ends, and a single separating-partition forming the top of one section and the bottom of the next, said partition crossing the line of the joints between the sections; substantially as described.

2. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed sections having end joints on irregular lines extending through the end boards, and a single separating-partition having a part thereof secured to one of said sections and crossing the lines of the end joints between the sections; substantially as described.

3. A pair of superimposed sectional cases, having an irregular joint, and a single horizontal partition having a part secured to one of said sections, and crossing the line of the joint so as to butt against the end board of the next section, said partition concealing aportion of the joint; substantially as described.

4:. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed sections having irregular joints attheir ends, a single separating-partition between the sections, and crossing the line of the joints between them, and exterior cover-strips secured to one section and covering the end joints between the sections; substantially as described.

5. In sectional cases, a pair of separate superimposed sections, each section having an end swinging door, the top and bottom edges of the doors fitting neatly together, and a projecting cover-strip secured to one door and covering the horizontal joint between the doors; substantially as described.

6. In sectional cases, a pair of separate superimposed sections with interfitting end joints, said sections having horizontallyswinging doors hinged to their ends, and mechanism for securing the doors rigidly together to swing as one, the doors when closed lying in a plane in front of the edge of the partition between the sections; substantially as-described.

7. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed sections with interfitting end joints, each section having a movable door and a strip secured along the horizontal edge of one door and covering the joint between the top of one door and the bottom of the next, the doors when closed lying in a plane in front of the edge of the partition between the sections; substantially as described.

8. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed tially as described.

9. In adjustable cases,a pair of superimposed sections having end swinging glass doors, with their adjacent horizontal rails fitting together, a cover-strip for the joint between the doors, and a latch device on one of said doors; substantially as described.

10. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed sections, one of the sections having an intermediate shelf therein, a separating-partition between the sections, each section having a door opening endwise, one of said doors having a horizontally-extending rail portion covering the horizontal front joint between the sections; substantially as described.

11. In sectional cases, a pair of separate superimposed sections having a separatingpartition, said sections having irregular joints crossing a part of said partition, and coverstrips secured to one section and covering the joints; substantially as described.

12. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed sections, each section having an end swinging door with their horizontal edges fitting together, a cover-strip arranged to conceal the horizontal joint between the doors, and cover-strips secured to one section and covering the end joints between the sections;

I substantially as described.

13. In sectional cases, a pair of separable superimposed sections with end joints, each section having an end swinging door, a dowel-pin connection between the adjacent rails of the doors of the two sections, a coverstrip for the joint between the doors, and a latch device secured to one door at a point adjacent to the joint with the other door; substantially as described.

14. In sectional cases, a pair of separable vertical sections having a single separatingpartition and with an irregular end joint between them, a cover-strip hiding the joint, and a vertical strip for the end face of the case of substantially the same width as the coverstrip; substantially as described.

15.- In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, each having a back and sides with an open end, said sections having interfitting side joints between them arranged to prevent sidewise displacement of one section relative to the other, intermediate adjustable shelves in the sections, and separate swinging doors, one for each section, pivoted upon vertical axes at the edges of the sections and arranged to swing horizontally, the top rail of one door fitting neatly against the bottom rail of the next door above; substantially as described.

16. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, each having an open end and provided with a back and sides, a transverse piece connecting the sides of the section and arranged to prevent outward bu lging, said sections having intertitting side joints to prevent sidewise displacement of one section relative to the other, intermediate adjustable shelves in the sections, separate doors, one for each section, pivoted on vertical axes at the edges of the sections, the side rails of the doors being arranged to hide the end joints of the connecting-piecebetween the sides, when the door is closed; substantially as described.

17. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, each having an open end and provided with a back and sides, a transverse piece connecting the sides of the section and arranged to prevent outward bulging, said sections havinginterfitting side joints to prevent sidewise displacement of one section relative to the other, intermediate adjustable shelves in the sections, separate doors, one for each section, pivoted on vertical axes at the edges of the sections, the side rails of the doors being arranged to hide the end joints of the connecting-piece between the sides, when the door is closed, the top rail of one door embracing the extreme top portion of the bottom rail of the next door below and fitting neatly against the bottom rail of the next door above; substantially as described.

18. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, which have open ends, each section having a back and sides, interiitting joints between the sections arranged to prevent displacement of one relative to the other, said sections having adjustable shelves, a top and bottom section, adapted to close the open end of the adjacent respective preceding section, means for preventing sidewise bulging of each section, and separate swinging doors extending entirely across the front of the section pivoted on vertical axes at the edges of the sections and arranged to swing horizontally; substantially as described.

19. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, each having an open end and comprising a back and sides, a top and bottom section having closed fronts, said sections having interfitting joints arranged. to prevent displacement of one section relative to the other, intermediate shelves in the receiving-sections, means for preventing the sides of said sections from bulging outwardly, said means comprising transverse pieces connecting the sides, the receiving-sections having swinging doors extending entirely across the front of the section pivoted on vertical axes at the edges of the sections and arranged to swing horizontally; substantially as de' scribed.

20. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, each having an open end and comprising a back and sides, a top and bottom section having closed fronts, said sections having interfitting joints arranged to prevent displacement of one section relative to the other, intermediate shelves in the re ceiving-sections, means for preventing the sides of said sections from bulging outwardly, said means comprising transverse pieces connecting the sides, the receiving-sections having swinging doors pivoted on vertical axes at the edges of the sections and arranged to swing horizontally, the top rail of one door fitting neatly against the bottom rail of the next door to close the joint between the sections; substantially as described.

21. In a sectional case, a pair of similar superimposed receiving-sections, each having an open end and provided with aback and sides, a transverse piece connecting the sides of the section and arranged to prevent outward bulging, said sections having interfitting top and bottom joints to prevent displacement of one section relative to the other, intermediate adjustable shelves in the sections, and separate doors, one for each section, pivoted on vertical axes at the edges of the sections, the top and bottom rails of the doors fitting together when closed to hide any shelf or connecting; piece between the two sections; substantially as described.

22. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receivingsections, each having an open end and provided with a back and sides, a transverse piece connecting the sides of each section to prevent bulging of said sides, said sections having interfitting joints at their sides which prevent sidewise displacement of one section relative to the other, an intermediate shelf in each section, separate doors for each section, each door being pivoted on a vertical axis at the side edge of the section, the side rails of the doors when closed hiding the end joints of the transverse connecting-pieces, the top rail of one door fitting neatly to the bottom rail of the door of the next section above; substantially as described.

23. In sectional cases, a pair of superimposed receiving-sections, each having an open end and provided with a back and sides, a transverse horizontally-extending piece connecting the sides of each section to prevent bulging of said sides, said sections having interfitting joints at their sides which prevent sidewise displacement of one section relative to the other, an intermediate shelf in each section, separate doors for each section, each door being pivoted on a vertical axis at the side edge of the section, the side rails of the doors when closed hiding the end joints of the transverse connecting-pieces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CLARENCE P. BYRNES. IVitnesses:

H. M. CoRwIN, L. A. CoNNER, Jr. 

